Fall 2026 Issue

From the Provincial, Fr. Raymond Cook, OMI

Dear Friends in Christ,

Welcome to this edition of Oblate World Magazine. As you read these pages, you will encounter stories that reveal the living heart of our Oblate mission. They reflect formation, scholarship, resilience, intercultural ministry, and the enduring hope that continues to shape our Congregation. Your prayers and generosity make this work possible, and I am grateful for the ways you continue to walk with us.

This issue highlights the remarkable breadth of Oblate life today. We begin with the ongoing growth of Oblate Studies at the Oblate School of Theology. The Kusenberger Chair of Oblate Studies enters a new chapter under the leadership of Father Alberto Ruiz González, OMI. His vision builds upon the extraordinary foundation established by Father Frank Santucci, OMI. Their shared commitment ensures that the charism of Saint Eugene de Mazenod continues to be studied, deepened, and lived with clarity and conviction.

You will also read about the Missionary Oblates in Ghana, a community whose founding spirit and intercultural witness have matured into a vibrant mission now entrusted to the United States Province. From the Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes to the villages of the Diocese of Ho, the Oblates there embody the Gospel through accompaniment, humility, and service. Their integration into our Province strengthens our shared mission and expands our presence in West Africa.

Another feature brings you into the life of Saint Augustine Catholic Church in New Orleans, where Father Emmanuel Mulenga, OMI, serves a community marked by resilience and faith. Their five year journey of worshiping in a social hall after hurricane damage, and their joyful return to the restored church, reveal the strength that emerges when people sustain one another through prayer, silence, and hope. Their story is a testament to the healing power of community and the enduring light of the Church in times of trial.

This edition also reflects on the challenges and opportunities of our technological age. Pope Leo XIV offers timely guidance in his encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, which invites us to consider how artificial intelligence shapes human life and how the Church can guide society toward choices rooted in dignity, solidarity, and moral imagination. It is a reminder that our mission must always be attentive to the emerging forms of vulnerability in our world.

You will also encounter a story from our formation community that reflects the depth of pastoral ministry today. Bro. Marco Antonio Cruz completed his Clinical Pastoral Education in St. Louis this past summer while residing at the St. Henry Oblate Residence in Belleville. He shared a privileged experience accompanying a family during a difficult transition. The mother was ready to stop treatment and prepare for the final stage of her life, while her son struggled with the emotional weight of caring for her and accepting her readiness. Marco’s presence offered spiritual grounding and holistic relief, reminding us that pastoral care touches the whole person and that the ministry of accompaniment remains central to our Oblate identity.

Finally, we celebrate the 2026 Jubilee of vows and ordinations. Across San Antonio, Tewksbury, and Belleville, the Province gathered to honor Oblates whose decades of ministry have strengthened parishes, formed seminarians, accompanied the poor, and proclaimed Christ with perseverance and joy. Their testimonies, marked by amazement, gratitude, and interior joy, remind us that vocation is a lifelong journey sustained by grace and community.

Across every story in this edition, one truth remains constant. God continues to call. The Oblates continue to respond. Your generosity makes that response possible. You help form seminarians, sustain missionaries, and support ministries that bring hope to those most in need.

As you read this issue, I invite you to pause in prayer and reflect on the ways God is at work in our Congregation. May these stories strengthen your spirit and remind you that we share a mission rooted in the Gospel and entrusted to us for the sake of the poor and most abandoned.

Thank you for being a vital part of our Oblate family.